George f



(No Model.)

G. F. ARCHER.

WINDLASS.

Patented May 9,1893.

WITNESSES:

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,lsrrrso STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. ARCHER, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

WINDLASS.

PEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 496,967, dated May 9,1893.

Application filed February 17,1893. Serial No. 462,728- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. ARCHER, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in WVindlasses, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention is related generally to a large class of machinesforhoisting, but more specifically to those adapted for raising lightweights and which are therefore usually worked by hand power.

In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2, show the essential parts of myinvention in end and side elevations. Figs. 3 and 4, show the same in amodified form. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of a further modification, andFig. 6 a side view of the same in which part of the barrel outside thebearing is shown in section for the better comprehension of details.

In the figures 10 represents a part of the form of the Windlass or winchthrough which passes the axle 12. Upon this axle are made fast barrels14: and 16, or one of them, as desired. These barrels may of course bemade of any form or material to suit the Work to be done. The crank arm18, as seen in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, is closely fitted to the squared orflattened end of the axle, but so as to admit of a slight oscillation orrocking movement in a plane at right angles to across section of theaxle; and it is held in its place by the pin 20. In Fig. 2, a tooth 22projects from the end of the crank arm 18, which is adapted to engage inthe face-ratchet 24, and forms in fact, with the end ofthe lever a pawlwhich acts or not as the workman turning the handle may determine. Thestiff spring 26, holds this tooth in engagement with the teeth of theratchet, so that when the crank is moved forward the axle of theWindlass rotates also and the barrel with it. If the workman allows thearm to retain the inclined position shown in Fig. 2, the pawl 22, willfall from tooth to tooth of the ratchet, the spring 26 yielding as eachtooth depresses the handle, so that the whole of the crank oscillates onthe shaft to which it is fitted and pivoted by the pin 20. But, bypressinglaterally against the arm in the direction of the frame, therebyovercoming the spring 26, the tooth 22 leaves the ratchet 2 1 altogetherand the movement of the machine becomes smooth and noiseless. Moreover,the arm being now completely disengaged from the stationary teeth of theratchet, the workman can turn the crank in either direction, that is, hecan lower as well as raise the weight to be moved by winding up orletting oh the cord upon the barrel. This is done with perfect safety,becauseunlike the ordinary Windlass having a ratchet and pawl, or even afriction brake, my windlass is never in a condition to escape from thehands of the person using it and revolve in obedience to the weight.Should anything cause the operator to let go the crank the tooth willfall in immediately (due to the action of the spring 26), and check thebackward rotation of the axle.

In Figs. 3 and 4, a similar arrangement of parts is represented; buthere the pawl or dog 28, is not rigidly made part of the lever as in thesimplest form of my invention discussed above; it is attached to thesame by the pin 30, and slides in obedience to the workmans hand or thespring 26 in a long slot within the outside barrel or within a boss onthe axle attached especially for this purpose. A barrel in this positionis often useful, and therefore, as the face-ratchet must be fixed uponthe frame, its teeth are best reached by the pawl in this way. It shouldfurther -be explained, that when the whole weight of a load dropssuddenly and automatically upon the tooth 22 in Figs. 1 and 2, theresistance to rotation is furnished by the flattened. end of the axle towhich the arm is fitted, and with a heavy load hanging on the barrelincreased by the leverage due to the position of the tooth, the wrenchupon the spindle may be very severe. In Figs. 3 and 4, this is obviated,the construction there shown being fitted for heavier work, or forrougher treatment. This immunity from wear and tear is due to the factthat the outside barrel itself receives and resists the blow inflictedon the dog 28, and not the slotted rectangular hole in the lever, or thespindle end, so that the injury above referred to is impossible.

In Figs. 5 and 6, the construction of my invention is further modifiedwith valuable results. The crank in this form of Windlass is not fittedon the end of the axle; it drops in stead into a groove extendingdiametrically across the end of the outside barrel or boss, which isformed by the projecting parts 32.

, Here it is held by the long pin 3%. In this modification the spring 26is replaced by two springs 36 and 38, both on the arm as shown. Thelittle pin 40, connects the pawl and lever flexibly, as 30 does in Fig.4, but not permanently, for it is so placed as to enable the latter todraw the former out of engagement with the ratchet, while its returndepends on the spring 38. In this arrangement the outer end of the crankarm is lifted away from the frame by the spring 36, and the pawl is thendepressed by the spring 38, but, when the Windlass is in use, the pawlcan rise and fall independently of the arm so long as the latter is 'inthe oblique position shown in Fig. 6; this is not possible when theoscillating movements of both arm and pawl depend on one spring. As inthe previous case this pawl is supported against the thrust of theratchet by the barrel through which it passes,but in this form ofWindlass the crank arm is also Well supported against lateral movementor wrench, by the projections 32, on the end of the barrel, betweenwhich it lies.

This Windlass is well adapted for lifting moderate loads, being suitablefor wells, d umb Waiters, light elevating machinery, and for all themany kinds of dipping and draining tanks and vats used in the arts. Itis an especially safe form of hoisting apparatus, because of the way inwhich it automatically locks itself if accidentally let go; and as thistakesplace before much momentum has been acquired, there can be nodanger to the in experienced operator of a blow from the handle, whichhappens not unfrequently when ordinary hand windlasses are carelesslyused.

The methods of construction shown in the drawings, forming'part of thisspecification, are the most efficient known to me; but I do not confinemyself to them exclusively, being well aware that many other changes andmodifications are possible without deviating from the principlesinvolved. It for instance, a heavier load has to be raised than would bemanageable by a man turning a crank attached directly to the barrelaxle, a pinion, as 42, can be keyed on that shaft, and made to gear intoa wheel on the barrel axle, in the well known way.

In this specification the term oscillating applied to the crank, isintended to indicate that it is capable of being oscillated slightly inthe plane in which the axis of the machine lies, in addition to therotary movements to and fro, common to all winch handles.

What I claim is- 1. In a Windlass operated by hand, an oscillating crankcarrying a pawl; in combination with a stationary face-ratchet adaptedto receive the pawl; and a spring to throw the same into engagement;substantially as described.

2. In a Windlass operated by hand, an oscillating crank arm incombination with apawl flexibly connected thereto; with a Windlassbarrel provided with a slotted recess for the pawl; with a ratchetattached to the Windlass frame; and with a spring holding the pawlengaged with said ratchet; substantially as described.

3. In a Windlass operated by hand, a crank arm oscillating in thediametrically grooved end of the barrel; in combination with a pawlflexibly connected thereto; a face-ratchet on the Windlass frame; aspring on the crank arm actuating the pawl; and a spring forcing thecrank arm handle from the frame; substantially as described.

4. In a Windlass operated by hand, a frame carrying a Windlass barrel inbearings, and a stationary ratchet bolted to said frame; in combinationwith a spring -governed pawl traversing said ratchet when the Windlassis in use; and with an oscillating crank arm controlling said pawl andadapted to lift and hold it out of engagement with the ratchet teethwhile the load is being lowered; substantially as described.

GEORGE F. ARCHER.

Witnesses:

WALTER G. SCOTT, GEoRcE A. ARCHER.

